Apparatus for handling barges



July 7, 1970 E. A. SQUIRES APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1969 July 7, 1970 E. A. SQUIRES APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1969 July 7, 1970 E. A. SQUIRES APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BAR(.'1ES

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 10, 1969 July 7, 1970 E. A. SQUIRES APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARGES Filed Feb. 10, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NM NM United States Patent 3,519,142 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARGES Elmer A. Squires, Rte. 4, Box 447, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 Filed Feb. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 798,053 Int. Cl. B65g 7/00 U.S. Cl. 2141 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Means for removing floating barges from a shore, to a predetermined position, subsequently inverting the barges through substantially 180 at said location to expose surfaces normally below the water line, and to subsequently transfer the barges in inverted condition to a second predetermined point for repair. Upon completion of the repair, the barges are subsequently reinverted, and returned to the water.

This invention relates generally to the field of dry docking, and more particularly to an improved means for the removal of river and ocean going barges for repair.

Most barges of the above mentioned type are of square configuration, and since they are devoid of engines, rudders, propulsion means and the like, most repairs performed on such craft usually relate to barnacle scraping, painting, and repair of damage to the hull at or below the water line. As the barges are usually flat bottomed, and of relatively shallow draft, the above repairs are best performed while the barge is supported in an inverted position, in such manner that the super structure, if any, is free of a supporting function.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved docking means having facility for removing individual barges from shallow water, transporting the same by means of wheeled vehicles to a point where an inverting function is performed, and subsequently transferring the inverted barge to a convenient location for repair.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved docking means of the class described, in which the mechanical complication thereof has been reduced to a low order, with a minimum of fixed installations.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved docking machines, in which the total cost of manufacture may be of a reasonably low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that a minimum of land excavation is necessary in the installation of the device, and this excavation is confined to a single locality.

These objects, and feature, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear during the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, somewhat schematic in nature, of the location at which a barge is inverted after having been withdrawn from the water.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the partial inversion of a barge from horizontal to vertical orientation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing an individual 3,519,142 Patented July 7, 1970 "ice barge supported in completely inverted position, and prior to transportation to a point where repairs are performed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the individual limits of the paths of travel of various portions of the inverting means comprising parts of the disclosed embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10 (see FIG. 1) is installed in a slip or shallow water area, generally indicated by reference character 11, and includes a first plurality of tracks 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, best seen in FIG. 2. Mounted on the tracks are corresponding cars or carriages 17.

The tracks 12-16 extend between and on the sides of a plurality of first jacking elements 18, 19, 20 and 21. A plurality of second jacking elements 22, 23, 24 and 25 are positioned in staggered relation with respect to the first jacking elements 18-21, inclusive, and are serviced by a second plurality of tracks 26. having corresponding cars or carriages 27 which transport an inverted barge 29 to a work area 28.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the tracks 12-16 are generally similar, and of conventional construction, including first and second rails 31 and 32 interconnected by ties 33 which may be ballasted with respect to the ground as is well known in the railway art. The carriages may be of any suitable type, preferably including a flat platform 34 bounded by side edges 35 and 36 and end edges 37 and 38. Powered cable and winch means 39 serves to transport the carriages from the slip area 11 to the area of the first jacking elements 18-2-1, provision being made (not shown) for the simultaneous operation of each of the winch means associated with the tracks 1216, inclusive.

The first jacking elements 18-21 are similar, each being installed over first and second recessed areas 42 and 43, respectively (FIGS. 2 and 4) which provide a source of hydraulic pressure for operation of the jacking elements. The recessed areas 42-43 are both preferably rectangular in configuration, and bounded by long sides 44 and 45, and ends 46 and 47.

Overlying the recessed areas 42 are first and second frame members 48 and 49, respectively, which are pivotally interconnected at points 50 to each other, for movement about a substantially horizontal axis. First hydraulic jack means 51 is partially disposed Within the recessed area 42, the lower end 52 thereof being provided with a pintle interconnection to the bottom surface 53 of the recess. The upper end 53a is similarly connected by a pintle to the lower surface of the first frame member 48. Second hydraulic jack means 55 includes an upper end 56 pivotally connected to the lower surface 57 of the second frame member 49, and a lower end 58 connected by a pintle at 59 to the first frame member 49. While the first frame member 48 is essentially planar in configuration, the second frame member 49 is provided with a perpendicularly extending support member 60 adapted to engage the side of the hull of a barge as the barge is progressively brought to vertical position, as seen in FIG. 3 in the drawing.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second recessed area 43 is preferably provided with hydraulic cushioning means 62 of well known shock absorbing type adapted to progressively engage the outer surface of the member 60, this means serving to brake the pivotal motion of the barge as the limits of the path of travel of the first jacking elements is reached.

The second jacking elements 22-25, inclusive, are substantially similar to the first jacking elements above described, and include first and second recessed areas 66 and 67, respectively, first and second frame members 69 and 70, respectively, angularly disposed support member 71, first and second jack means 72 and 73, and hydraulic cushioning means 74. In addition, the second jacking elements are provided with elongated barge supporting members 75 which are fixed with respect to the support member 71, and adjustable support members 76 and 77 which are mounted on the second frame members 70 and axially movable therealong to accommodate for hulls of varying width. This structure permits the inverted barges to be supported solely from the hull, and avoids damage to the hatches or other super structure normally projecting above the deck.

Referring to FIG. 4, conventional river barges 29, as has been mentioned hereinabove, are normally fiat bottomed, and include a generally square hull 79 and minimal super structure 80. The hull 79 includes a bottom wall 81, side walls 82 and 83, as well as end walls 84 and 85 terminating at a continuous upper edge in a deck 86. The super structure 80 is largely confined to hatches, having side walls 87 and 88, end walls, one of which is indicated by reference character 89, and sloping upper walls 90, which are normally insufliciently rigid to support the weight of the barge.

During operation, a barge 29 is positioned in a slip area 11 overlying the terminals of the first tracks 12-16, inclusive, and the carriages 17 are moved beneath the barge to engage the same. Subsequent transportation of the carriages moves the barge to the position indicated in dash lines in FIG. 2, and in full lines in FIG. 4, following which the first and second jacking elements 18- 25, inclusive, may be operated either separately or simultaneously to raise the barge to the vertical orientation shown in FIG. 4. As the barge nears the vertical position, the cushioning devices 62 engage the first jacking elements to ease the same to a stop.

The barge may now be transferred to the second jacking elements, portions of which are disposed therebeneath, and the second jacking elements are returned to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 to support the barge thereon so that the super structure does not contact the same. This is accomplished by contact of members 75, 76 and 77 with members 86 and 83. The barge is then transferred to the second cars or carriages 27, which contain supporting structure similar to members 75, 76, 77, following which the carriages are moved to the work area 28. This may be most conveniently accomplished by providing an upper surface 91 supported by hydraulic jack means (not shown) on the carriages.

Following repair, the above described procedure is reversed to return the barge to the slip and float the same in water.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A device for transporting relatively fiat-bottomed barges from a slip to a point where repair may be performed thereupon, said means including means for inverting said barges at a point alonga path of movement thereof comprising: first track means extending from said slip to a predetermined location, wheeledcarriage means arranged for movement along said track means, and capable of supporting the under surface of a barge, a first jacking element positioned at said predetermined point andhaving means for engaging said under su'rface of said barge and'pivoting said barge to lie upon one longitudinal side'thereof, a second jacking element located at said predetermined location adjacent said first jacking element, and adapted to engage abarge so disposed'onsaid first jacking element, and lower the same to completely inverted position.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in the provision of second wheeled carriage means cooperating with said second jacking element, to receive a barge in inverted position.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, further characterized in the provision of second track means supporting said second wheeled carriage means whereby said second wheeled carriage means may be conveyed to a point of repair.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said jacking element including first and second pivotally interconnected frame members, and first and second jacking means, said first jacking means interconnecting said first frame member with a fixed point, and serving to raise said first frame member from a horizontal orientation to one approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal; said second jacking means interconnecting said first and second frame members, and serving to vary the angle between said first and second frame members to a point where said second frame member lies substantially in a vertical plane.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 4, said jacking means including barge supporting members disposed substantially at a right angle with respect to the plane of said frame members, to selectively engage the side walls of a hull of a barge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1959 Avery 2141 4/1963 Jester 214-1 US. Cl. X.R. 

